VerdictThe second-generation Echo Studio is a more polished and mature smart speaker that comfortably cements its place at the top of Amazon’s Echo lineup.
The refreshed design finally gives it the visual appeal and place-anywhere presence its impressive hardware deserves, while the sound remains rich, detailed and room-filling.
That said, it doesn’t quite recreate the sheer authority and low-end swagger that made the original Echo Studio such a welcome addition to the Echo lineup.
Add to that a handful of headline smart features that are still yet to arrive, and the Echo Studio ends up feeling like a speaker that’s almost brilliant.
It’s easy to recommend for what it already does well, but you can't shake the feeling that its best days are still just around the corner.
Verdict
The second-generation Echo Studio is a more polished and mature smart speaker that comfortably cements its place at the top of Amazon’s Echo lineup. The refreshed design finally gives it the visual appeal and place-anywhere presence its impressive hardware deserves, while the sound remains rich, detailed and room-filling. That said, it doesn’t quite recreate the sheer authority and low-end swagger that made the original Echo Studio such a welcome addition to the Echo lineup. Add to that a handful of headline smart features that are still yet to arrive, and the Echo Studio ends up feeling like a speaker that’s almost brilliant. It’s easy to recommend for what it already does well, but you can't shake the feeling that its best days are still just around the corner.
